The Associated Press
Washington state and Oregon have joined California in delaying the start of their commercial crab seasons after dangerous toxin levels were found in crabs.
Officials say elevated levels of domoic acid were found in crabs in all three states.
In Washington, officials on Friday said they’re delaying the season along parts of the coast where it starts on Dec. 1.
Tribal crab fisheries in Grays Harbor and the adjacent ocean area are open, and officials said the crab there is safe and toxin levels are lower.
Domoic acid is naturally produced by microscopic algae in the Pacific Ocean, but the massive bloom of algae caused by warming ocean conditions this year has led to more toxins produced and consumed by shellfish.
California had already delayed the Nov. 15 start of its season after finding dangerous levels of the toxin.
Oregon on Friday delayed the Dec. 1 start along its entire coast.
It’s unclear how long the delays will last. Officials say they’re continuing to test crab samples.
Dungeness crabs are a tradition at some Thanksgiving and other holiday meals.
In 2014, the industry harvested nearly $170 million worth of Dungeness crab along the West Coast.
Officials say crabs sold in stores and restaurants remain safe to eat. Some crab on the market now may have been harvested months ago and frozen for later, or sourced from other areas.
Domoic acid or amnesic shellfish toxin can cause minor to severe illness and even death.
Cooking or freezing shellfish with high levels of the toxin does not destroy it and doesn’t make it safe to eat.
Because the toxin tends to accumulate in crab gut and in the fat inside the back of the shell, officials say even when the meat has been deemed safe people should remove all the fat and discard the gut before consuming the shellfish.
Other shellfish affected by domoic acid include razor clams, which have been taken off menus in Washington and Oregon.
Domoic acid has also been detected in mussels and oysters in the Puget Sound.